Buckle.



no. 635,743. APatented oct. 3|, |399.

M. L. BunKHAnnT.

Y B U C K L E (Appueation med July 15, w97.)`

(No Model.)

w'i/ard Rio* azitorrre TNE NRIS PETERS CO., PHUYO-LITNQ.. WASHINGTON, D. C.

Wart/'rl E MARTIN L. BURKHARDT, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

BUCKLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 635,743, dated October 31, 1899;

Application led .Tuly 15, 1897. Serial No. 644,623. (No model.)

To LU whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN L. BURKHARDT, of Minneapolis, county of Hennepin, State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Buckles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in buckles, and particularly belt-buckles; and the object of my invention is to provide a neat and convenient device for fastening the ends of a belt together, doing away with the usual form of tongue, a very important part of the ordinary buckle.

A further object is to provide eyelet-holes which are entirely concealed when the belt is in use; and a still further object is to provide a buckle which will permit the belt to be easily and quickly adjusted to the person or removed, thereby avoiding one of the principal objections to the use of the ordinary buckle.

To this end my invention consists in a plate or frame forming the main portion of the buckle, in combination with a looped portion or clip pivotally connected thereto and secured to one end of the belt, said clip being provided with a stud or lug to engage the eyelets provided in the opposite end of the belt, all as hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure l is a perspective of a belt embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a rear view of the buckle with the belt attached thereto. Fig. 3 is a rear view of the buckle and the inner surface of the belt, showing the eyelet-holes and the clip turned back away from the same. Fig. 4. is a sectional view showing the position of the parts when the buckle is in use.

In the drawings I have shown a belt com-- posed of two strips or bands of leather, an inner or broad strip 2 and an outer narrower strip 3. The strip 3 is preferably placed along the middle of the strip 2 and securely fastened thereto by stitching or in any other suitable way and is preferably of darker color than the strip 2, thereby giving afneat and attractive appearance to the belt. One end of the part 2 is tapered slightly, as shown in Fig. l, and provided along its center with a series of eyelet-holes 4.,which are entirely concealed by the part 3 when the belt is in use. Iprovide a metal plate 5, forming the front of the buckle, having a slightly-curved outer surface which may be engraved or otherwise ornamented, and provided on each side with the inwardly-projecting flanges or lips 6, which extend over the edges of the overlapping ends of the belt. Oonnectin g the outer edges of the anges 6 at one side of the center of the plate 5, I provide a cross-bar 7 and secure one end of the belt thereto by means of the metal clip 8,' which passes around the bar 7 and is secured to the belt by means of rivets or in any other suitable way. A stud or lug 9, adapted to engage one of the eyelet-holes 4. in the end of the belt, is provided upon one side of the clip 8. A loop l0 is provided on the inner surface of the belt, having its ends secured thereto by rivets or by stitching and passed around a second loop or band ll,which serves to hold the free end of the belt in po sition when the device is in use.

The clip is preferably stamped from sheet metal and may be made in various ways to adapt it for use with different styles of belts. I also prefer to stamp the plate or frame from sheet metal; but it may be cast, if desired.

The operation of the buckle is as follows: One end of the belt being secured to the cross-bar 7 by a plate, which turns freely on the bar, the other end, containing the eyelet-holes, is passed between the plate 5 and the cross-bar 7, sufcient space being provided for the ends of the belt to overlap and at the same time permit the free end to pass easily through the buckle between the plate 5 and the cross-bar 7. When the belt has been drawn sufficiently tight, the stud 9 is allowed to pass into one of the eyelet-holes, and thereby securely fastens the ends of the belt together. The free end is then inserted into the loop Il, and thereby prevented from becoming disengaged from the stud when the belt is in use. The cross-bar 7 being arranged near one end of the plat-e or frame 5 permits the opposite end to swing outwardly to facilitate the adjustment of the belt and the insertion of the stud into an eyelet-hole.

I do not confine myself to the use of my improved buckle in connection with belts, as it may be used on various parts of a harness or wherever it is 'desired to secure the ends of a strap or straps together.

IOO

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-- A buckle, Comprising a frame 5, having inwardly-turned `fianges or lips 6 to extend over the edges of a belt, a bar 7 connecting the edges of said lips or flanges at a point to one side of the center of said frame, a plate looped around said bar and having its ends secured to one'end of a belt whereby the belt is eoeentrically supported upon said frame, a stud 9 provided on said plate to enter an eyelet-hole in the opposite end of the belt 

